How do I unlock all the other ships in the hangar?

Question

In my FTL career, I've managed to unlock one or two of the other ships in the hangar, but there are still some that are unavailable.

One thing that I've found is that there tends to be a relatively complex series of events that leads to unlocking a new ship type. It seems like for at least some of them, a measure of advance planning and correct event responses is required.

What are all the ships available, and how do I unlock each one?

Answer 1

If we number the ships shown in the hanger by position, as follows:

1 2 3
4 5 6
7 8 9

This is how to get the ships:

1. Kestral Cruiser

   The default ship.

2. Stealth Cruiser

   Complete a quest involving stolen blueprints, that you can find in an Engi Homeworld sector.
   You need to have an Engi crew member as the quest is triggered by a 'blue' response.
   You have to chase two ships down and stop them jumping away (only have to catch one), you'll then get a marker to chase and destroy a third ship.

3. Mantis Cruiser

   Complete a quest involving a famous thief. This can be found in a Mantis Homeworld sector.
   You need to have a Mantis crew member as well as level 2 teleporter and medbay systems.
   There will be a node where a captain with the name KazaaakplethKilik will greet you, use the 'blue' response that is available if you have a Mantis crew member.
   Kill all the crew on the ship - do not destroy it.
   Then choose the blue option again (requires level 2 teleporter).
   Finally choose another blue option (requiring the level 2 medbay).

4. Engi Cruiser

   Reach sector five.

5. Federation Cruiser

   Complete the mission.

6. Slug Cruiser

   Complete a quest that you can find in an Slug Home Nebula sector.
   Requires 'good' sensors (rank 2 or 3 in the subsystem, maybe Long Range Sensors add on) or a Slug crew member. Slug ships will often surrender and offer their stores to be spared, accept all of these as one will offer an experimental weapon, refuse this and ask for data instead.
   At the new quest node choose "Try to tail them without being noticed," After that, if you have level 2 scanners or a slug, choose the blue option, then destroy the enemy ship before it powers up its FTL drive.

7. Rock Cruiser

   Complete a quest that you can find in an Rock Homeworld sector.
   One node will involve a Rock ship insulting you.
   Respond with the option along the lines of "I'll get there or die trying".
   Follow the quest marker wait for the ship to FTL away, do not destroy them.
   Go to the final quest marker.

8. Zoltan Cruiser

   In a Zoltan Homeworld sector you may be approached by a ship claiming to be unarmed, etc. Choose the Hear them out type option and you'll get a quest marker.
   Once there you have to negotiate peacefully (IIRC, it's the top 'reconcile' then second options 'bloodshed is bad') to unlock the ship

9. "Unidentified Cruiser"

   This ship is found by first acquiring the 'Damaged Stasis Pod' augmentation (as a reward for a random encounter). With this installed, you have to wait until you find Zoltan research facility, in addition to the normal options is a blue option to have them examine the capsule.
   You will then aquire a new, special, crew member.
   Now you need to find the Rock Homeworld sector. Here you may find a random event involving an 'ancient device', using your specialist crew member you have to trigger the blue response option.
   You will suddenly travel to a new, hidden, sector. In this sector is a quest marker. Go to this quest marker and this new ship will unlock, the Crystalline Cruiser.

I've parsed additional information from here, which has a pretty comprehensive ship guide.